parenthesis

[ puh-ren-thuh-sis ]

SEE DEFINITION OF parenthesis

noundigression

Synonyms for parenthesis

MOST RELEVANT

Antonyms for parenthesis

MOST RELEVANT

EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR PARENTHESIS

"Then that's where one gets left," Bobby commented, by way of parenthesis.

At the end of the chosen one there is a letter in parenthesis ( ).

Mrs. Black, astonished but imperturbable, bowed at this parenthesis.

Observe also that the comma in the first example is placed after, not before, the parenthesis.

The italic form of parenthesis is objectionable in book work.

To avoid the confusion caused by a parenthesis within a parenthesis.

Distinction is sought for the word in italic and not for the parenthesis enclosing the word.

What is the distinction in use between the bracket and the parenthesis?

The parenthesis in the description of this view has been spoken of.

“And leave my net alone, Tom,” cried his mother, in parenthesis.

WORD ORIGIN

1540s, "words, clauses, etc. inserted into a sentence," from Middle French parenthèse (15c.), from Late Latin parenthesis "addition of a letter to a syllable in a word," from Greek parenthesis, literally "a putting in beside," from parentithenai "put in beside," from para- "beside" (see para- (1)) + en- "in" + tithenai "put, place," from PIE root *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious). Sense extension by 1715 from the inserted words to the curved brackets that indicate the words inserted.